TPB will no longer give out links to .torrent files. The reason is simple: They're just a waste of space and our time.

Instead we're giving you Magnet links. It's simpler for us and no more hassle for you. It's more resilient than .torrent files and it uses much less bandwidth for those who wants to mirror. Also, since the magnet links are just a hash, it's on every single torrent detail page - so noone knows that you actually downloaded a file or not.

This means that noone can block torrent files without blocking data within a webpage. So far, few countries have implemented such harsh censorship tactics. Countries, particularily in EU, seems to moving towards total censorship so we do all we can to avoid our users ending up with less freedom.

A lot of media has hyped that we're stopping with the torrent files. It's like saying that Ferrari is no longer sellings cars - they're just selling BETTER cars. As are we, we're giving you the best links there are!

And to kinda-quote a bible, "Spilling seed is more severe then all sins, since he defiles his soul in this world and the world to come and he does not see the glory of the sharing."

PS. you _can_ download individual files using magnets - just wait until the metadata is fetched from the network. It is worth it.

I have had issues with magnet links in the past. Sometimes the metadata never got fetched which means the download wouldn't start. I neved did figure out how to use them in linux, but I also didn't try very hard since the .torrent files worked just fine.

Originally posted by snardos: I have had issues with magnet links in the past. Sometimes the metadata never got fetched which means the download wouldn't start. I neved did figure out how to use them in linux, but I also didn't try very hard since the .torrent files worked just fine.

i heard it works well on ubatanu ( or whatever its called) for linux os

GR8 now we can't select what we want to d/l out of torrent files anymore...this really sucks, and is a HUGE move backwards...this is just so they don't get shutdown. however they still will get shutdown eventually anyway so who really gives a sh-t!

Originally posted by elitepunk: GR8 now we can't select what we want to d/l out of torrent files anymore...this really sucks, and is a HUGE move backwards...this is just so they don't get shutdown. however they still will get shutdown eventually anyway so who really gives a sh-t!

i dont know about that, piratebay still has answers for everything flung at them, the government try and block it and piratebay always counter measure, it should have been shut down years ago but its still going. hope it lasts to be honest :D

I read a while back that TPB was working with Bittorrent developers on a replacement protocol that features more encrypted data streams and more flexibility......Perhaps this is a prelude to a rollout of such a product.

Ahh the ole Magnet bay. you have got to hand it to them, works great but a lot of people don't like change but it is a worthwhile change in regard to keeping one step ahead. well done the magnet bay. A new name for a new begining.

Haven't used Magnet yet. Just tried one out with uTorrent. Seemed pretty simple. I don't really see much of a difference, but I didn't have to download anything else to make it work, so nothing to complain about. At least Piratebay is still up and running. The only really "good" torrent site, or should I now say magnet site out there, IMO, besides private trackers.

Originally posted by mike.m: Havent used Magnet yet. Just tried one out with uTorrent. Seemed pretty simple. I dont really see much of a difference, but I didnt have to download anything else to make it work, so nothing to complain about. At least Piratebay is still up and running. The only really "good" torrent site, or should I now say magnet site out there, IMO, besides private trackers.

Mike I am not too technical, am retired, and would really appreciate a SIMPLE LAYMANS explanation of "magnets" and how to use them. Fred

Originally posted by Bozobub: Click them. If you have a decent torrent client (Vuze/Azureus, uTorrent) a magnet link will work roughly like downloading a full .torrent file. They do take somewhat longer to start, however.

Originally posted by Bozobub: Click them. If you have a decent torrent client (Vuze/Azureus, uTorrent) a magnet link will work roughly like downloading a full .torrent file. They do take somewhat longer to start, however.

You might, however, also see somewhat misleading ones that say "Get torrent here", or the like.

The main disadvantage with this form of starting a torrent session is that it's much more involved to NOT download specific files in the torrent (yes, it still can be a done*). But if you want all of them, it's exactly equivalent to using a .torrent file, but doesn't need a centralized tracker at all.

* Just click the "Files" (in most torrent clients) tab for a given torrent, then select one or more files (CTRL-click and shift-click DO work here), right-click the selection and then choose "Do not download", or the similarly-worded option in your client (if your client can't do this, sorry, it blows ^^'). You can then safely delete those filenames in the torrent's folder.

If you chose to preallocate space for torrents on your HD in your client's options, this can free up a LOT of space. Unfortunately, AFAIK this is the only real way to do it with magnet links; I'd love to be proven wrong - lol...

Complete, utter balderdash and bullpuckey. In fact, I used them today, and my wife is downloading something right now. You got scammed, if you paid one red cent, or if you ever do. TPB is NOT a paid site. They have, however, changed their URL; it ends in ".se" now (been like that for roughly a month).

For all you Windows users there is a freeware utility called OpenExpert available. You can simply point to your bittorrent client for the magen files or simply right click on the file, select properties and set your torrent client as the application to handle the file.

I have had occasions to use magnet links in the past. These work essentially with DHT, Peer Exchange and Local Peer Discovery.